This is a true story, sad but true. I have a coworker who is a greenie, calls himself a vegan but eats tuna only for the protein he says. He asked me if I was concerned about using GMO corn to heat my house. I explained that I am so offended by GMO corn I am buying it by the ton to destroy it and save our mother the earth.
GMO Corn
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Haven't a clue what variety of corn I'm burning, all I know is it was free and I have a lot of it. 8000 pounds be exact, well, about 6000 pounds now. Roasted about a ton already. Should have at least 1 ton left over for next winter but I'll probably get an additional couple tons then.
Last year I ended up with a nice mix of purple and yellow corn. Farmer asked before he dumped in the wagon if it was ok, told him I wasn't prejudiced, I burn all colors of corn. Didn't notice a bit of difference.
Now I just need to figure out how to get the corn free like SidecarFlip. Really can't complain though paid $3.40 a bushel this year.
Now I just need to figure out how to get the corn free like SidecarFlip. Really can't complain though paid $3.40 a bushel this year.
That is an excellent price for medium dent. Coop price here as of Friday was $4.26 per bushel, old crop 15%RM.
Mine isn't exactly free. The row crop farmer I get mine from buys hay from me (round bales) and I give him a good price (I still make money on them) but I don't gouge at all like most haysellers do, plus I store his rounds in my Clearspan storage building for hin no charge so I get corn for the stove and my steers from him.
Been doing that for about 5 years now. Works really well.
If I was younger, I'd build a round bale furnace like they use in Europe and heat the house and all my hot water with it. I think that is a neat idea and a 4 x 6 round will last almost a month with a controlled burn.
Do the next best thing however.
Mine isn't exactly free. The row crop farmer I get mine from buys hay from me (round bales) and I give him a good price (I still make money on them) but I don't gouge at all like most haysellers do, plus I store his rounds in my Clearspan storage building for hin no charge so I get corn for the stove and my steers from him.
Been doing that for about 5 years now. Works really well.
If I was younger, I'd build a round bale furnace like they use in Europe and heat the house and all my hot water with it. I think that is a neat idea and a 4 x 6 round will last almost a month with a controlled burn.
Do the next best thing however.
Sawset
Minister of Fire
Put on a thermostat, low and slow.
In the 80s I toured a grain elevator that had some innovative grain handling and drying. Heated with wood, corn stalks, or bean stubble. Forklift in a tree trunk, round bale of stalks or stubble, low and slow, cook 10,000 bushel.
Sawset
Minister of Fire
Actually 150 bushel and change. Corn at 15% RM is about 53-56 pounds per bushel. Nothing at all. Just fine. My steers eat it too, just like the stove does. This corn is probably 12% however.
Of you read my previous comment you'll understand how and why I get it. I'm very lucky to have that arrangement, but then, if I didn't, I'd probably just run pellets and propane. At $218 a ton pellets and propane are just about equal with maybe propane getting the edge slightly. I keep 800 gallons of propane on hand all the time anyway. I own the bottles and fill them in the summer when the price is low.
Tractor shop is heated with propane (floor heat) anyway. Nothing beats a warm floor.
Put the bale in the steel tank and control the combustion air with a steel water tube jacket and viola, hot water heat. Like I said, if I was younger, maybe. Not now, too old and I have a pretty good deal already (other than having to clean out the stove twice a week).
Don't have to be bailed hay either. Round baled combined wheat straw would be just as good and probably even cheaper per bale as it's considered surplus material anyway.
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